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Caroline L-N
2nd Wednesday of month, 10:15 for 11:00 am
Wells Museum
Open to all full members.
All talks are held at Wells Museum. They start at 11:00 am, preceded by coffee from 10:15 to 10:45 am, at an inclusive cost of £3.00. Group members who provide coffee may attend talks without charge.
Announcements and members' questions begin punctually at 10:45.
October Talk
Talk will be on Wednesday 14 October 2026.
October's speaker is the author and publisher, David Foy.
David has worked across all facets of the UK book trade since 1999. Starting as a bookseller at Waterstones in Bath, he went on to manage non-fiction at London's oldest bookshop, Hatchards on Piccadilly, before holding senior sales and marketing management roles at major publishing houses, including Transworld, Random House, Bloomsbury, and Phaidon. Since 2018, he has combined freelance publishing work with bookselling for Waterstones, and in 2024 founded a publishing agency advising prospective authors on self-publishing. David is also the author of four books: The Lady Gaga Style Bible, Cherish Madonna, Like and Icon, Galliano, Fashion's Enfant Terrible, and Victoria Bechham, Style Power.
David's talk is "My Life in Books"
In this engaging talk, David traces the trajectory of his 26+ year career in bookselling and publishing. He will explore how the book trade has evolved from 1999 to the present day, discuss the key considerations for aspiring writers seeking publication, and examine the financial and commercial realities facing the industry today. Finally, he will offer insights into what the future holds for books in an era increasingly shaped by Artificial Intelligence
This will be a popular talk, particularly since it will take place immediately before the well known Wells Festival of Literature. Please arrive in good time to ensure a seat. Wells U3A members only, except by negotiation, £3 each, cash preferred - it is very good value!
September Talk Report
September 2026 Talk
Another enthusiast that Wells u3a encountered last month was Chris Kelly, who has
been captivated by the Roman Empire since he was a boy.
He was the speaker at the u3a’s monthly talk at Wells Museum, and described the
growth of the Roman Empire, with stories of its generals and battles.
Now retired and living in Wedmore, his working life as a general manager in the
motor trade took him all over Europe, and gave him opportunities to visit sites of
Roman occupation, and record some of the engineering marvels left behind.
Caroline - Talks Co-Ordinator